TRAVERSE CITY -- Michigan Blood, provider of 100% of the regular blood supply for local hospitals, is experiencing a critical need for type O-negative blood and is appealing to local blood donors for immediate help to avoid an extreme shortage.
Summer vacation season and hot weather have reduced blood donations. At the same time, Michigan Blood has not been able to collect as much type O-negative blood as usual during the past week.
Type O-negative is known as the “universal donor” blood type because it can be safely received by anyone with any blood type.
“It’s always hard to keep the blood supply pumped up during the summer season,” said Jim Childress, Vice President of Community Relations. “Despite our best efforts to balance all types of blood in our inventory, currently our need for type-O blood has outpaced the number of donations that have been coming in.”
Any healthy person 17 or older who weighs 110 pounds or more may be eligible to give blood every 56 days. To donate stop in to the Michigan Blood Center or CLICK HERE for blood drives around northern Michigan.
Main Blood Center – 2575 Aero Park Drive, Traverse City
10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday & Thursday, July 28-29
7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, July 30
About Blood Types
* Only about 7% of people have Type O-negative blood – but people with any blood type can receive it (which is why it’s in such demand).
* About 38% of people have Type O-positive blood.
